Self-balancing capacitor-blocked multilevel power converter
This technology is a smarter way to control a type of high-voltage power converter that uses specialized circuit building blocks called Integrated Capacitor Blocked Transistor (ICBT) cells. The core innovation is a control algorithm that continuously monitors the voltage on each internal capacitor and, when one starts running too high, introduces a precisely timed delay in the switching signals to bleed off that excess voltage before damage occurs. By sensing both the capacitor voltages and the direction of current flow, the controller decides exactly when to apply that delay—at turn-off for positive current or turn-on for negative current—keeping all capacitors balanced without sacrificing converter performance. The result is a more reliable, self-protecting high-power converter architecture suited for demanding grid and industrial applications.
What you could build
A high-voltage DC-AC or DC-DC power converter module with built-in capacitor balancing firmware, sold to manufacturers of grid-tied inverters, HVDC transmission equipment, or industrial motor drives who need reliable multilevel converter designs without external balancing hardware.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense contractors (e.g., shipbuilding, naval power systems) and data center power infrastructure companies would have direct interest in high-reliability multilevel power converters.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Jianghui YU, Rolando BURGOS
- Granted
- June 20, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11682968
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.